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Members of Congress wrap up work on spending and taxes before the Thanksgiving break. Early Friday morning, the Senate approved a $60 billion package of tax cuts, and the House narrowly approved $50 billion in spending cuts. But finding common ground in December won't be easy.

The Bush administration neither confirms nor denies allegations that the United States has run covert flights and prisons in Europe. Despite keeping mum on the reports, the administration has maintained its practices have been lawful.

Director Harold Ramis brings his brand of dark -- and often silly -- humor to holiday audiences with The Ice Harvest. The irreverent film stars John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, and Randy Quaid.

Satirist David Sedaris first won national recognition for his talent after reading from his "Santaland Diaries" on NPR in 1992. Sedaris is now a best-selling author of satirical and witty books.

Puzzle master Will Shortz quizzes one of our listeners, and has a challenge for everyone at home. (This week's winner is Bruce Bolter from New York City. He listens to Weekend Edition on member station WNYC in New York.)

Seth Borenstein, national correspondent for Knight Ridder, talks about a report he co-wrote on the reduction of fines for mine safety violations imposed by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration since President Bush took office.

New Orleans is the hometown of our editor, Gwendolyn Thompkins, and she went back recently to to see how the city is making out. With more than 300,000 people gone, she says, New Orleans really is 'new'. She sent back these impressions.

Police take the man who shot Pope John Paul II back into custody after an appeals court ordered him to return to prison to serve more time for killing a journalist and for other crimes in Turkey.

In the midst of the controversy over Italian antiquities, the Getty is reopening its famous Villa this month after a multimillion-dollar renovation. The Villa houses some of the artifacts Italy wants back. Commentator Tyler Green says it's unlikely visitors will care if some of its art is contested.

Zoë Keating, part of the "classic rock" trio Rasputina, has a new solo CD, One Cello x 16: Natoma. The classically trained musician talks about exploding the traditional boundaries of classical music to reach a new audience.

The levees of Southern Louisiana remain under the control of local districts, but Hurricane Katrina revived a call to join them under a central authority. Some question whether surrendering local power would prevent a levee failure in the future.

President Bush didn't answer any questions from the audience at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington Wednesday. But senior news analyst Daniel Schorr has a few.